A Georgia judge blocked a new rule from the state’s election board that would have required hand-counting ballots cast on Election Day, citing concerns of delays and disruptions in reporting results in the battleground state. The rule, approved by three board members praised by former President Trump, was set to take effect two weeks before Election Day. Democrats filed a lawsuit to halt the rule, arguing it would add uncertainty and disorder to the electoral process. Hand-counting ballots has been a focus for many on the right following baseless claims of hacked voting machines. Critics argue that hand-counting is more expensive and less accurate than using tabulators. The same board members also passed rules allowing county election board members to conduct “reasonable inquiries” before certifying results, which critics say could cause chaos. The temporary injunction is a victory for Democrats and comes after the judge ruled that county election boards cannot refuse to certify election results. The ruling is likely to be appealed, and the election board members have been praised by Trump for fighting for honesty and transparency. Georgia has been a focal point of Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
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